Peter Gabriel

i/o [Bright-Side Mix/Dark-Side Mix/In-Side Mix]

Real World Records

Pop/Rock

The art rocker returns with his first album of original material in 20 years: a probing collection filled with empathetic new beginnings.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Aretha Franklin

A Portrait of the Queen 1970-1974

BMG Rights Management

R&B

A sharply presented box containing expanded editions of the Queen of Soul's first five '70s studio albums.

— Andy Kellman

Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes [40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

Craft Records

Pop/Rock

The 40th anniversary edition of this groundbreaking alt-rock classic includes early demos and live recordings from concerts in 1981 and 1983.

— Fred Thomas

Kenny G

Innocence

Concord

Easy Listening, Jazz

Working with an orchestra, Kenny G delivers a collection of short, soothing lullabies.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Harp

Albion

Bella Union

Pop/Rock

A canny blend of folk-influenced songs with post-punk-informed arrangements on this album from former Midlake singer Tim Smith.

— Mark Deming

The Polyphonic Spree

Salvage Enterprise

Good Records Recordings

Pop/Rock

Warm folk harmonies and uplifting emotions mark the psych pop group's eighth album.

— Matt Collar

Chase & Status

2 Ruff, Vol. 1

Casablanca / EMI / EMI Records

Electronic

A brief but potent mixtape of drum'n'bass dancefloor heaters, with featured guests including Flowdan, Stefflon Don, and Clementine Douglas.

— Paul Simpson

Muriel Grossmann

Devotion

Third Man Records

Jazz

The saxophonist conjures a psychedelic, organ-soaked vibe on her debut for Third Man Records.

— Matt Collar

Les McCann

Never a Dull Moment! [Live From Coast to Coast 1966-1967]

Resonance

Jazz

These unreleased live instrumental performances by Les McCann's early trios are a welcome, wonderful-sounding surprise.

— Thom Jurek

Czarface

Czartificial Intelligence

Silver Age

Rap

The comic-themed rap supergroup continue their saga, mixing playful bravado with moments of nostalgic reflection.

— Paul Simpson

Pop Filter

CONO

Bobo Integral

Pop/Rock

The third album from this Australian indie collective tries out new styles and songwriting approaches on every track.

— Fred Thomas

Robben Ford

Night in the City

Ear Music

Jazz, Pop/Rock, Blues

A 2021 live date finds the guitarist and his regular quintet delivering an inspiring performance on two new tracks and selections from his catalog.

— Thom Jurek

Jonathan Rado

For Who the Bell Tolls For

Western Vinyl Records

Pop/Rock

The celebrated producer and ex-Foxygen member channels Brian Eno, deranged funk, and other unlikely influences on songs that are still restrained and sadly beautiful.

— Fred Thomas

Van Duren / Good Question / Good Question

Cartwheeling: Live in Memphis

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

The Memphis power pop stalwart on-stage in 1992, sometimes slick and sometimes rocking at full force.

— Mark Deming

Julie Cherrier-Hoffmann / Frédéric Chaslin / La Fenice Theater Orchestra

Poulenc: La Voix humaine; Fiançailles pour rire

Aparte

Classical

Poulenc's late one-act phone opera seems more relevant than ever and is given a suitably stressed-out performance.

— James Manheim

Samuel Hasselhorn / Ammiel Bushakevitz

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

A keyboard-dominant Die schöne Müllerin inaugurates a major new Schubert series.

— James Manheim

Igor Levit

Fantasia

Sony Classical

Classical

A bold exploration of the fantasia idea with a towering performance of Busoni's difficult example.

— James Manheim

Víkingur Ólafsson

Bach: Goldberg Variations

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Brilliant, engrossing Goldbergs join superb virtuosity to crystal clarity in a subjective approach.

— James Manheim

Trio Metral / Victor Metral / Laure-Hélène Michel / Nathan Mierdl

Chausson, Ravel: Piano Trios

La Dolce Volta

Classical

Sharp performance of two trios that, although separated by just a few decades, inhabit different worlds.

— James Manheim

Jeannette Sorrell / Apollo's Fire

Handel: Israel in Egypt

Avie

Classical

A thoroughgoing rethinking of Handel's troublesome oratorio succeeds in bringing dramatic coherence.

— James Manheim

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